Resources

Local Resources – Carolina

US Commercial Service – Carolina Officewww.buyusa.gov/The U.S. Commercial Service is a federal government agency dedicated to helping small-to-medium sized companies with their exporting strategies. Its trade experts assist U.S. firms in exporting their products or services by providing comprehensive counseling and advice, timely and accurate intelligence regarding foreign markets, and by identifying qualified international buyers and representatives. This web site, provides contact information on the Carolina Office staff, as well as links to publications and other organizations and web sites of interest to exporters.

Carolina World Trade Associationwww.cwta.org The Carolina World Trade Association (CWTA) is the region’s ….premier resource for individuals and companies engaged in international business. Its website provides news and information on membership and monthly meetings, and provides links to a variety of international trade and business web sites of particular interest to the Carolinas.

State Resources – North Carolina

NC Department of Commerce International Trade Divisionhttps://www.nccommerce.com/trade The International Trade Division assists North Carolina companies to take advantage of worldwide opportunities by providing value-added services. This web site provides information on State services for exporters, contact details on ITD staff in NC and foreign offices, guides to doing business in various countries, and links to publications and other resources.

NC Department of Agriculture’s International Trade Officewww.ncagr.gov/markets/internationalThe International Trade Office helps bridge the gap between international buyers and North Carolina suppliers of agricultural commodities, value-added foods, seafood and aquacultural products, and forest products. This web site provides information on NCDA programs to assist exporters, contact details on NC trade offices in other countries, a calendar of related trade shows, and more.

North Carolina Portswww.ncports.comNorth Carolina’s Ports in Wilmington and Morehead City, plus inland terminals in Carolina and the Piedmont Triad in Greensboro, link the State’s consumers, businesses and industry to world markets and serve as magnets for business and industry. Learn more about North Carolina Ports and information and services available to exporters at this web site.

NC Small Business and Technology Development Centerwww.sbtdc.org/offices The North Carolina Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC) helps small business owners and those interested in starting a business. The SBTDC web site provides general information on exporting and importing, as well as other services and information available to small businesses. The highly skilled professionals provide services statewide from offices hosted by campuses of The University of North Carolina System. The SBTDC operates in formal partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration, Defense Logistics Agency and others, making it a unique and valued asset in the economic development infrastructure of North Carolina.

North Carolina District Export Councilwww.ncdec.us The NCDEC contributes to leadership and international trade expertise to complement the U.S. Commercial Service’s export promotion efforts through counseling businesses on the exporting process and conducting trade education.

North Carolina Consular Corps under NCwww.northcarolina.consularcorps.info North Carolina is home to career and honorary consulates representing over 20 nations from across the world. The various consulates are located throughout the state with concentrations in the Carolina and Raleigh metropolitan areas. Some consulates cover areas that reach beyond North Carolina’s state lines. A consul is an official representative of the government of one state in the territory of another, normally acting to assist and protect the citizens of the consul’s own country, and to facilitate trade and friendship between the people of the two countries.

North Carolina Foreign Trade Zoneswww.nccommerce.com/it/about-us/foreign-trade-zones Foreign Trade Zones (FTZ), sometimes known as Free Trade Zones, are neutral secured areas that for legal purposes are considered outside of U.S. Customs territory. FTZs offer several economic advantages for businesses involved in international trade. There are four general purpose FTZs in North Carolina and seven active Sub-Zones approved for use by individual companies. In addition, all of the zones are transitioning to the Alternative Site Framework (ASF), which greatly simplifies services to users. Foreign or domestic merchandise may enter these areas without a formal customs entry or the payment of customs duties or government excise taxes and without a thorough examination.

State Resources – South Carolina

SC Department of Commerce International Trade Programhttp://sccommerce.com/internationalThe International Trade Program offers support services to help get South Carolina companies oriented and moving in the direction for trade. The Program offers market research, strategic planning, and export consultation. The web site provides information and links to the State’s programs for exporters.

South Carolina Portswww.scspa.com SCPA terminals in Charleston, Georgetown, and Greer.

South Carolina District Export Councilwww.sctrade.org The South Carolina District Export Council (SCDEC) is an organization of leaders from the local business community whose knowledge of international business provides a source of professional advice for local firms. The SCDEC works closely with the Columbia, Greenville and Charleston U.S. Export Assistance Center of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Commercial Service to help South Carolina businesses succeed in the global economy

South Carolina Small Business Development Centerswww.scsbdc.com For more than thirty years, entrepreneurs have turned to South Carolina Small Business Development Centers (SC SBDC) for help expanding an existing business or starting a new enterprise. Through free consulting, low-cost seminars and links to resources, the SC SBDC helps jump start startups and makes existing businesses thrive. SC SBDC consultants work with companies in all stages of development – from a person with an innovative product but no idea how to move forward to the owner of a company looking to capture new markets. A statewide organization, the SC SBDC has 21 area centers in communities across South Carolina, serving both urban and rural business needs.

Federal Resources

Export.govwww.export.gov
Export.gov is the primary portal to export-related assistance and market information offered by the federal government. Supported by 14 different U.S. departments and agencies involved in international trade, Export.gov can help you find trade leads, free export counseling, help with the export process and other information.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)www.cbp.gov
CBP became an official agency of the Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003, combining employees from the Department of Agriculture, the Immigration and Naturalization Service, the Border Patrol and the U.S. Customs Service. The agency’s web site is a starting point for information on a host of new federal regulations and procedures affecting international travel and trade.

U.S. Department of Statewww.state.govFind passport and visa information, travel warnings, links to US embassies and consulates, and much more at the State Department’s web site.

U.S. Department of Agriculture – Marketing & Tradewww.fas.usda.govThis portion of the USDA web site provides information on importing and exporting agricultural products, reports on prices and other trade statistics, and information on agricultural trade policy and procedures.

SBA Office of International Tradewww.sba.gov/oitThis site provides information on U.S. Small Business Administration programs and assistance available for would-be exporters. It includes links to a variety of resources and to the online SBA Guide to Exporting.

Central Intelligence Agency’s World Factbookwww.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the-world-factbookThe CIA’s annual World Factbook is one of the best and most famous international information resources on the Internet. The World Factbook is a collection of maps, flags, and comprehensive information on every country and territory in the world. Topics addressed include political climate, recent international disputes, natural resources, environment, population, inflation rate, GDP, agriculture, industries, defense expenditures, national holidays, literacy rate, religion, legal system, labor force, and more.